September is that glorious month in the South that heralds the approach of cooler weather. The days grow shorter and the nights grow cooler and both garden and gardener take a new lease on life. September might be dubbed appreciation month - a chance to observe and get full satisfaction from the efforts of all the garden projects. By watching the growth of certain plants and the lack of it in others, the wise gardener can easily plan for corrections next season.
Garden Sanitation - This all-important job should precede all other fall garden activities. Following the vacation period, many garden plants need to be groomed. Remove all dead foliage and old blooms from the plants or from the bed areas. This clean-up is necessary to eliminate diseases and remove hiding places that might harbor harmful insects.
With the approach of fall, insects will be searching for winter homes and places to lay their eggs. A wise gardener gets rid of such places of refuge for these pesky critters! Following the clean-up, dust the base of the plants with sulfur or a fungicide to insure the garden being "tucked in" for winter in a clean and healthful condition.
Compost Piles - Much of the garden litter removed in the fall makes good raw material for the compost pile. The leaves will soon begin to fall, and certainly these should be incorporated into compost as they will raise the acidity of the product for use on the garden.
Fall is the time when decomposition begins in the composting operation. By adding occasional layers of a balanced fertilizer into the composting material, one may improve the chemical content of this valuable humus material.
Remedial Pruning - This little task is always with us. As blooms are removed through the season, the direction of growth of plants like the lantana plant can easily be controlled. For instance, in cutting a rose and lantana plant the gardener has the choice of cutting the stem to an outside or inside bud. If the plant is open and the desired shape is to a closed center, then cut to an inside bud. The bud will be forced into growth, and the new growth will be toward the center of the plant.
To open up a plant cut above an outside bud. It is always wise to remove any damaged or diseased part of a plant during the growing season. Many plants grow so fast that they need a carefully followed pruning program to keep them in bounds. Regardless of the reason for pruning (there must be a reason), be conservative about removal of limbs from flowering plants and fruit trees from September on into the winter. As the rate of growth begins to slow down, the plants begin to store carbohydrates and this results in formation of the flower buds. Unless pruning is done very carefully, many flower buds can be easily destroyed. A good rule to remember is that most of the flower buds are formed on current season wood, and this wood should be saved to insure a heavy crop of bloom next spring. - 29954
Garden Sanitation - This all-important job should precede all other fall garden activities. Following the vacation period, many garden plants need to be groomed. Remove all dead foliage and old blooms from the plants or from the bed areas. This clean-up is necessary to eliminate diseases and remove hiding places that might harbor harmful insects.
With the approach of fall, insects will be searching for winter homes and places to lay their eggs. A wise gardener gets rid of such places of refuge for these pesky critters! Following the clean-up, dust the base of the plants with sulfur or a fungicide to insure the garden being "tucked in" for winter in a clean and healthful condition.
Compost Piles - Much of the garden litter removed in the fall makes good raw material for the compost pile. The leaves will soon begin to fall, and certainly these should be incorporated into compost as they will raise the acidity of the product for use on the garden.
Fall is the time when decomposition begins in the composting operation. By adding occasional layers of a balanced fertilizer into the composting material, one may improve the chemical content of this valuable humus material.
Remedial Pruning - This little task is always with us. As blooms are removed through the season, the direction of growth of plants like the lantana plant can easily be controlled. For instance, in cutting a rose and lantana plant the gardener has the choice of cutting the stem to an outside or inside bud. If the plant is open and the desired shape is to a closed center, then cut to an inside bud. The bud will be forced into growth, and the new growth will be toward the center of the plant.
To open up a plant cut above an outside bud. It is always wise to remove any damaged or diseased part of a plant during the growing season. Many plants grow so fast that they need a carefully followed pruning program to keep them in bounds. Regardless of the reason for pruning (there must be a reason), be conservative about removal of limbs from flowering plants and fruit trees from September on into the winter. As the rate of growth begins to slow down, the plants begin to store carbohydrates and this results in formation of the flower buds. Unless pruning is done very carefully, many flower buds can be easily destroyed. A good rule to remember is that most of the flower buds are formed on current season wood, and this wood should be saved to insure a heavy crop of bloom next spring. - 29954
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